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Welcome to Episode 22 of Wrestling the Octopus IBD! A reminder of our new email address if you'd like to get in touch: [email protected]

In this Crohn’s & Colitis Awareness Week special, Nigel and I take a look in the rear view mirror to ponder our decades of lived experience with inflammatory bowel disease - from treatment and attitudes, to advocacy and patient empowerment, to stress and stigma. And of course, our definition of patient‑centred care. We hope you will find this episode honest, insightful and, above all, hope-giving.

🗝️ Key Themes

• Awareness & Advocacy: The rise of patient ambassadors, charities and campaigns that have helped de‑stigmatise stomas and raise public understanding of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.
• Patient‑Centred Care: How shared decision‑making has evolved from prescriptive medicine to collaborative conversations, while acknowledging ongoing challenges.
• Treatment Journeys: From IV steroids and their long‑term effects to biologics like infliximab - and the growing pipeline of advanced therapies.
• Stress & Coping: Emotional vs. physical stress, survival mechanisms and the importance of self‑compassion.
• Work & Flexibility: How working from home and flexible arrangements can ease daily challenges for patients.
• Language Matters: The role of healthcare professionals in framing stomas and surgery with positive, balanced language.
• Messages to Patients: Nigel emphasises letting go of guilt and keeping a sense of humour, while Rachel encourages education, rounded perspectives, and not sweating the small stuff.

📬 Get Involved

• Email: [email protected]
• Twitter/X:
  • Nigel: @Crohnoid
  • Rachel: @BottomLineIBD
• 🔮 Coming Up in 2026
  • Intestinal ultrasound (IUS): is it an alternative to colonoscopy?
  • Conversations with a surgeon about surgery decisions for IBD patients.
  • Complementary medicine in IBD with a Mayo Clinic consultant.
  • Future episodes on IBS in IBD and cardiac health in IBD.

Follow Rachel at @bottomlineibd

Follow Nigel at @crohnoid